Disconnect clutch assembly



April 5, 1960 R. c. ZEIDLER ETAL 2,931,476

DIscoNNEcT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY Filed March 13, 1957 AA m. NQ h, NN NSN .gw MQN WM, 9N Q w NSN wQN MUN MN n Y mi 2,931,476 Patented Apr. `5, 196i) DISCONNECT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY t Reinhold C. Zeidler and Robert J. Berr, Detroit, Mich., assigner-s to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois Application March 13, 1957, Serial No. 645,738

3 Claims. (Cl. 192-89) This invention relates to clutch devices, and more particularly to clutch devices particularly adapted for effecting driving connection from a suitable source of power to vehicle air conditioning compressor or other accessory.

ln the copending application of Zeidler et al., Serial No. 608,782, tiled September l0, 1956, and entitled Clutch Eevices, there is disclosed and claimed a unique disconnect clutch assembly which is small in size and low in cost, but which also requires only a minimum of maintenance and inherently possesses long life. The present invention is a further improvement which, while retaining all of the advantages of the aforementioned prior structure, additionally inherently incorporates further advantages.

For example, one object of the present invention is Vto provide a new and improved compressor disconnect `clutch assembly suitable for use on any standard corn- `pressor regardless of variations in the spacing between the compressor housing and the compressor drive shaft.

Another object is the provision of a device in accordance with the preceding object in which the entire struc- ,presser shaft, and in which the spring bias of 'the clutch vis contained only within the clutch housing, so that no reaction thrust is transferred to the compressor shaft bearings.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the Vart from the speciiication and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which: 1

`Figure l is a vertical` sectional viewthrough the center of adevice constructed in accordance with the principles ,ofthe present invention, substantially alongthe plane of line l-- of Figure 2;

V:Figure 2 is asectional viewl along theplane of line 2--2 of `Figure lwith portions brokenaway vto facilitate the explanation;

Figure 3 isasectional view along theplane of line 3:3of Figure 2;

igure is a partial sectional viewvof` almodied de- `vice incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view along the plane of line 5-5 of Figurei.

Indigure lthere is illustrated a drive shaft 1 of an accessory, for ,example the compressor of an air conditiener, havinga tapered outermost portion 2 adapted ,to 'complementarily v support a generally lannular. plate 3 whap/ing, a'woodruf key. d disposed inav suitablefslot in the shaft 1 so that the shaft and plate 3 rotate together. The plate 3 comprises a generally annular horizontal portion 5 and extending radially outwardly therefrom is a generally saucer shaped flange 6 terminating in a clutch plate portion 7 which is annular in conliguration and which is provided with a radially extending, forwardly facing face S. The annular clutch plate 7 is provided with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced, outwardly projecting tabs 9 respectively received in a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 1l in a cylindrical, horizontally extending flange l2 formed integrally on a generally cup shaped member i3. The slots 11 also respectively receive'a plurality of generally rectangular tabs 14 projecting radially outwardly from an annular clutch plate 15l spaced longitudinally from the clutch plate 7. The flange -12 is provided with a suitable notch which receives a' .stop ring s6 adapted to prevent axial movement of the clutch plate 15 to the right, from the view of Figure 1,,relativle to the member 13.

Disposed between the clutch plates 7 and 15 is a driving clutch plate 17. Clutch plate 17 comprises a pair of friction facing i3 and 19, annular in configuration, glued or otherwise fixedly mounted to a generally annular core 2l of steel or other suitable material. The core 21-has a generally annular opening centrally located therein which formed thereon a plurality of gear teeth 22 throughout the periphery of the opening which are adapted to mesh with a plurality of gear teeth 23v externally provided on a generally annular hub 24. The .hub 24 is rotatably supported from the horizontally extending portion v5 0f the plate 3 by a pair of single roll ball bearings 25 land 26. The inner race of the ball bearing 25 engages .a shouider fori red on the plate 3, while the outer race thereor" engages a suitable iiange on the-hub 24, as illustrated 1i Figure l. The inner race of the ball-bearing 26 engaged, by an annular clip 2,7, generally U-Shalled in cross section, having a central opening therein through which a bolt 28 extends, the bolt beingpreceived in a suitable threaded opening 29 inthe compressor shaft 1. The outer race of the ball bearing 26, and the outer race ,of ball bearing 25 are separated by a spacer washer 31 approximately 0.01 inch thick, and the outward portion of the outerrace of the bearing 26 is secured by ya staking operation, as indicated at 32, .to the hub 24. The ball bearings 25 and .26 are thereby preloaded, as .willbe ap- :arent to those skilled inA the art. The hub V24 alsosupports a pulley 33, rigidly connected to the hubv 24 by suitable means, such as welding, the pulley 33 being adapted to be driven from the fan belt of( the vehicle in conventional manner,

The clutch, comprising the clutch.plates7, 17 and 1 5, is biased toward the engaged position thereof indicated in Figure l by a belleville washer 34 disposed between the flange 6 and the member 13, the washer 34 being generally annular in configuration 'and having a central annular opening therein received upon a suitable shoulder in the flange 6 as illustrated in the drawings. It'will be seen that washer 34'biases member 13 toward the left in Figure l so that stop ring lforces; clutch plate .15 into engagement with clutch plate 17; this in turnforces Vclutch plate 17 into engagement with clutch plate 7. To

.generally annular, radiallyV extending portion 38 a forwardly (to the right in Figure 1) extending portion 39 mounted on the outer race of the bearing 36 which terminates in a forwardly facing surface having a plurality of radially extending tabs 41 engaging the forwardly facing surface ofthe outer racel of bearing 36, and a rearwardly extending arm 42. The arm 42 carries a rubber grommet 43 and is adapted for insertion between a,

pair of spaced arms 44 integral with the body of the compressor, or other xed part, so that arm 42 is permitted some longitudinal movement but is prevented against rotative movement. Obviously the length of arm 42 may Vbe'varied as desired to accommodate any spacing between the clutch device and the compressor body.

Camming assembly 35 also comprises a rotatable plate It will be readily apparent toV those skilled in the art that rotation of the arm 46 will effect .a camming action effected bythe balls 49 in the grooves 477--48 to effect axial movement of the plate 45. In engagement with the radially inner, front surface of the plate 45 is an annular thrust bearing 51, the forward face of which is engaged by a plate 52, annular in configuration and 'having a central opening therein which is Vkeyed to the portion 39 of the reaction plate 37 so as :to be axially movable relative to the reaction plate 37 but nonrotatable relative thereto.

Glued or otherwise xedly mounted to the outer periphery of the forwardly Vfacing portion of the plate 52 is a-carbon graphite bearing ring 53 which is in registry with the radially inner portion of the member 13 as illustrated in Figure 1. The radially inner portion of the plate 52 is engaged by 'an annular, sinuous spring 54, the forwardly facing portion of which abuts against a suitable stop ring 55 xedly mounted with respect to the portion 39 of the reaction plate 37. It will be seen that the spring 54, therefore,

biases the plate 52, the bearing 51,` and the plate 45 toward the reaction plate 37 at all times.

As will be apparent from the drawings, when the arm 46 occupies the engaged position illustrated in Figure 2, the balls 49 respectively lie in `low portions of the Acarnrning grooves 47 and 48, and the spring 54 biases Athe plate 52 toward the reaction plate 37. As a result the graphite ring 53 on the Aplate 52 is spaced from the member 13, and the belleville washer 34 holds the clutch plates 7, 17 and 15 in frictional engagement. As a result when the fan belt drives the pulley 33, hub 24 will Vbe rotated, clutch plate 17 will rotate, clutch plates 7 -and 15 will be rotatedV in View of their frictional engage- `ment with the clutch plate 17, and this rotative movement will be transmitted by the flange 6 to the horizontally extending portion of the plate 3, and from this portion 5. through the key 4to the compressor shaft 1. Obviously during the period, the member 13 andthe belleville washer 34 will also rotate. When it is desired to disengage theV clutch ,toV stop 'rotation of the compressor shaft ,1, arm'Y 46 is rotated from the engaged" position illustrated in Figure 2 to the released position indicated 1n that ligure. The plate 45 is therefore rotated relative to the reaction plate 37, the latter plate'being held against rotation by the arm 42. The balls 49 will therefore occupy relatively shallower portions of the spaces defined by the grooves 47 and 48 so thatvthe plate 45 will be moved away from the reaction plate 37 againstV the bias of the spring 54. As this forward movement of plate 45 continues, graphite ring 53 will be'brought into engagement with the associated portionof member 13 and elect forward movement of member 13 against the nection to the hub 24, it also will move axially forwardly to a slight degree interrupting the driving connection with the clutch plate 7. As a result, continued rotation incorporating the present invention.

of the vpulley 33 of the fan belt will still eEect rotation of hub 24 and clutch plate 17, but this Yrotation willnot be imparted to the clutch plates 15 and 7, nor to the compressor shaft 1 which therefore will no longer rotate. When it is desired to reengage the clutch, the arm 46 is rotated from the released position indicated in Figure 2 to the engaged position illustrated, in that figure. The plate will thereby be rotated back into the position illustrated in the iiguresrso that the balls 49 once again permit the spring 54 to move the plate 52 with the graphite ring 53 thereon and the plate V45 towardvthe reaction plate 37, graphite ring 53y once again assuming a position spaced from the member 13. Belleville vwasher 34 may then return the member 13 to the posi- .17, plate 17 being forced also into frictional engagement with the clutch plate 7. Rotation of the pulley 33 will then once again be transmitted to the compressor drive shaft 1. j

In Figures 4 and 5 there is shown a modified device This is substantially identical with thestructure previously described herein, diering therefrom in the construction of the driving clutch plate member and in the connection thereof to the hubto which it is mounted. With this arrangement, a pulley 101, similar to the pulley 33, iswelded yor otherwise xedly mounted to an annular hub 102 mounted upon the ball bearings 25 and 26. Pulley 101 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 103 adapted to respectively receive one end of a plurality of rivets 104. The rivets 104 extend respectively through circumferentially spaced openings in an annular driving clutchfplate 105 as more fully explained hereinafter. Rivets 104 l have heads 106 which serve to xedly clamp the clutch plate 105 to theV hub 102. An annular plate 107 overlies Vthe openings 103, plate 107 being fixedly mounted to the hub 102 by suitable means (not shown) such as bolts and having one end engaging the`forward face of the outer race of ball bearing 26.

The driving clutch `plate 105, generally annular in configuration, has pafplurality of integral flexible tabs108 extending inwardly thereof, Vas illustrated in Figure 5, these tabs having holes through which rivets 104 respectively extend and being engaged by the rivet heads 106 so that the clutch plate 105 is xed to the hub 102. These tabs 108 are each provided with'an elongated opening 109 so that the outer part of the plate 105, provided on its opposite sides with friction facings'lll, may be flexed. More specifically, when the driven clutch plates 7 and 15 are moved into engagement with the clutch plate 105, the outer portion thereof is iiexed, as illustrated in Figure 4. Conversely, when the arm 46 is `moved to its released position so that the driven clutch plates 7 and 15 are moved away from each other, the clutch plate Ywill assume a straightened kposition 1n y which the friction facings thereon 'are spaced from the driven plate 7 by an amount preferably of rthe order. of 0.002 to 0.0l4inch. It will be seen that with the constructionY illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, rattling noises occasioned-.by movement of the driving clutch plate with respect to its hub are eliminated.V Y

It should be particularly noted that with the device ofjthe present invention, all of the parts may be assembled and checked for 'release and torque capacity before leaving the factory, no adjustments being necessary in thefield inasmuch as the entire strvzture is adapted to be supported by the compressor shaft. Re-

apelar/e gardless of the normal spacing between the compressor body and the shaft thereof, this spacing varying with different commercial compressors, the device may advantageously be employed inasmuch as arm 42 is made of suiicient length to engage the compressor body or other tired support, and in any event sufficiently long to overcome any spacing variations found in the commercially available compressors of the type for which this clutch is useable. it should further be noted that this clutch may be utilized with these varying types of commercial compressors Without changing any parts to accommodate these variations in tte commercial compressors.

it will further be seen that the device is very simple and compact, and yet sturdy enough to have extremely long lite.

in this regard it should be notedthat the graphite bearing 53 is normally spaced from the member 13 and that rotation between these parts when they are in engagement occurs for only an extremely short period of time; when the device is to be disengaged, member i3 is engaged by bearing 53 only through a period snfciently long to move the clutch plate 15 away from he clutch plate 17, after which the member will t fp rotating. i `vill rotate slightly Simnarly member i3 it ive to bearing 53 when it is engaged thereby during he movement toward engaged position, but this rubbing exists for only a fraction of a second under rating conditions.

it is particularly important to notice, regard to devices constructed as illustrated that rattling noises between the ssembly substantially eliminated. rattle can occur between the driving because of riveted-or other 'nection t in addition, rattling ses between driven clutch plates and the member nated due to the action of the belleville washer 3d which, when the device is in its engaged condition,

parts under a substantial bias which substa ally elV linates relative movement therebetween.

.f'Vliile certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and invention is o be given its broadest possible interpretation within terms of the following claims.

1( L i i plate anc its p," v eastwee the the

1. In a clutch assembly adapted for mounting upon an accessory driving shaft comprising a pulley, an annular hub xedly connected thereto, driving plate means mounted on said hub, driven plate means adapted to engage frictionally said driving plate means so as to be driven therefrom, a supporting member having a tubular central portion adapted for mounting upon the accessory driving shaft, said driven plate means comprising a first plate integral with said supporting means and a second plate spaced from said rst plate, said driven plate means further including drum means having a lug and slot connection to said iirst and second plates and biasing means between said drum means and said supporting member, means ou said tubular central portion effective to connect said supporting member to the accessory driving shaft, means rotatably supporting said hub upon said supporting member, means operable to effect relative movement between said driving and driven plate means, and means rotatably supporting said operable means upon said supporting member.

2. En a clutch assembly adapted for mounting upon an accessory driving shaft comprising a pulley, an annular hub fixedly connected thereto, driving plate means mounted on said hub, driven plate means adapted to engage frictionally said driving plate means so as to be driven therefrom, means for rixedly mounting said driving plate means to said hub, drum means having a lug and slot connection to said driven plate means, a supporting member having a tubular central portion adapted for mounting upon the accessory driving shaft, means on said tubular central portion effective to connect said supporting member to the accessory driving shaft, means rotatably supporting said hub upon said supporting member, means operable to eect relative movement between said driving and driven plate means, means rotatably sup porting said operable means upon said supporting member, and biasing means between said drum means and said supporting member.

in a clutch assembly adapted for mounting upon an accessory driving shaft comprising a pulley, an arinular hub xedly connected thereto, driving plate means mounted on said hub, driven plate means adapted to engage frictionally said driving plate means so as to be driven therefrom, a supporting member having a tubular central portion adapted for mounting upon the accessory driving shaft, said driven plate means comprising a rst plate integral with said supporting member and a second plate spaced from said first plate, drum means having a lug and slot connection to said rst and second plates, biasing means between said drum means and said supporting member urging said drum means and said supporting member toward a lirst relative position, means ou said tubular central portion effective to connect said supporting member to the accessory driving shaft, means rotatably supporting said hub upon said supporting member, means operable t0 effect relative movement between said driving and driven plate means, means rotatably supporting said operable means upon said supporting member, and means lixedly mounting'said driving plate means to said hub.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITES STATES PATENTS 1,010,366 Herndon Nov. 28, 1911 1,790,284 Reed Ian. 27, 1931 2,679,769 Parrett June l, 1954 2,771,977 Uher Nov. 27, 1956 

